On 2013-02-21 17:20, bigbrotiki wrote:You know I am not sure anymore if these were designed by Stubenberg, or by Edward Brownlee. I seem to remember that Jeff Berry told me Brownlee claimed them to be his work. But they just seem so much like Stubenberg's style. Maybe Stubenberg drew them, and Brownlee carved them? I think Brownlee is still living up North somewhere...

Have you not been reading? Edward Brownlee, CLEARLY states in his letter (as transcribed in Waikiki Tiki: Art, History and Photographs) "I carved the panels around the broiler from the 'Tahitian Lanai.'" And yes, Ed and Phyllis are living in Oregon. And, pictures of both locations ARE in my book...

There ya go! I must have had that info in the back of my mind, too. I have so much Tiki data stored up in my aging brain, I forget stuff. But as I said, maybe Stubenberg sketched them? They just seem so stylized for Brownlee. But then he was such a young and crazy artiste still at that point ...as can be seen in this mural he did for the Princess Kaulani Hotel:

So really, I shall rest my case, and not dabble in assumptions any longer: I say Less has his answer!

On 2013-02-21 17:20, bigbrotiki wrote:You know I am not sure anymore if these were designed by Stubenberg, or by Edward Brownlee. I seem to remember that Jeff Berry told me Brownlee claimed them to be his work. But they just seem so much like Stubenberg's style. Maybe Stubenberg drew them, and Brownlee carved them? I think Brownlee is still living up North somewhere...

Have you not been reading? Edward Brownlee, CLEARLY states in his letter (as transcribed in Waikiki Tiki: Art, History and Photographs) "I carved the panels around the broiler from the 'Tahitian Lanai.'" And yes, Ed and Phyllis are living in Oregon. And, pictures of both locations ARE in my book...

A big mahalo to Mr. Roberts - will definitely seek out the book (that link in your siggy is a start!)

And yes, Less now has her answer!

As the panel is up in the cafe where there is drink & food service, is kinda hard to get up closer to it (even for staff) and the piece really needs a dusting! Once I get some hot coals lit under some feet for cleaning time, I'll be doing detail shots. There is a lot of history and good memories behind this item and is a definite conversation starter with the early morning crowd. Sometimes we get staffers from HiNewsNow or the HPD who come in regularly and I catch snippets of conversations related to memories of the Tahitian (especially from older cops).

Nice design! But can the Tiki archeologist discern any specific patterns that are related to the place? Nothing rings a bell with me - do you see it, Nauga? It's got an authentic modern primitive vibe, yes, but for 128.- bucks....? I guess the 100 % silk and the "Mother of pearl shell buttons laser engraved and dyed to match" make it expensive.

It's Tahitian Lanai in name only, if anyone really wanted to make a shirt based on the bar they would have to include a reference to the focal point Brownlee carvings above the bar. The only stretch (and it's a huge leap of faith) I can find is the triangular patterns on the shirt that look similar to the ones on the patio of the Tiki Tower on the Waikikian Hotel and that's not even the bar. I was just happy someone still references it, albeit it's starting to get into the slippery sloop of Tahitian Lanai revisionism.